his hands after the iqāma for prayer and before the opening takbīr, or one who raises his hands immediately after the salutation concluding an obligatory prayer, whether collectively or individually. His Eminence Shaykh Abd al-Azīz ibn Abd Allah ibn Bāz—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “It has not been authentically reported that the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—would raise his hands after an obligatory prayer, nor, to our knowledge, has this been authentically reported from his Companions—may Allah be pleased with them. What some people do by raising their hands after an obligatory prayer is an innovation that has no basis.”1.

Among such practices is raising the hands in supplication after a prostration of recitation, as well as raising them upon sighting the new moon and the like.

In sum, in circumstances that existed during the Prophet’s lifetime in which it is not established that he—peace and blessings be upon him—raised his hands, it is impermissible to raise them. His actions constitute the sunnah, and so does his refraining from action. He—peace and blessings be upon him—is the excellent example in what he does and refrains from doing2. It is obligatory to adhere to what has been transmitted from him—peace and blessings be upon him—and to leave everything else.